Device for stopping leaks in vessels



(No Model.)

DQJA'BVES, v DEVICE FOR STOPPING LBAKS IN VESSELS. No. 349,719. Patented Sept. 28, 1886.

N. PETERS, PhomLmw n her, Walhinglom 0.,c.

UNITED STATEs PATENT ()rFIcE.

DEMING JARVES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

DEVICE FOR STOPPING L EAKS IN VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349.719, dated September 28, 1886.

Application filed May 20, 1886. Serial No. 202,760. (No model.)

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DEMTNG JARvEs, of Detroit, Vayne county, Michigan, have invented an Improvement in Devices for. Stopping Leaks in Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for covering an opening in the side of a vessel, resulting from a collision, and has for its object to provide a device which is readily accessible, easily handled, and can be quickly and firmly placed over a break in a vessel.

The invention consists of a flexible shield of any suitable material secured to and wound upon a heavy roller located in any convenient and accessible part of the vessel,and provided with means whereby it may be attached at any point along the side of the vessel over the break, and with means whereby it may beheld in place and drawn up again when not required.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows the device attached to the rail of the vessel above a break and covering the hole, with slackened securing-ropes in dotted lines. Fig. 2 shows the device rolled up. Fig. 3 isa detail of themeans for securing the tightening-lines along the sides of the vessel.

The invention will be set forth in thefollowing description and claims.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a flexible shield of stout canvas or other heavy fabric or material, having one edge fastened to a heavy roller, B, of iron or other suitable material, and the other provided with a heavy bar having holes for fastening-ropes O, or other suitable devices, by which it may be secured to the rail of the vessel or other convenient point of attachment on the side. The roller B is provided with grooved ends or spools, around which hoisting-lines D, of wire or other suitable material, are wound as the shield is unwound. When not in use, the shield is wound upon the roller and placed in any accessible part of the vessel. Along the outside when two of the ropes F are released, is attached to each one of the lines D, and is free to move thereon. The ropesF lie snugly along the upper part of the side of the vessel, and may be painted so as to represent a streak. Similar ropes may in like manner extend about the-stern. Several of the ropes F may be employed to compensate for loss should one be dropped accidentally in removing it from its fastenings. I

The operation of the device is as follows: A collision having taken place,the flexibleshield wound upon its roller is taken to that part of the ships side where the hole or break is, and

its edge fastened thereto by the ropes O, as shown. The roller, which must be heavy enough to rapidly sink, unwind the shield,and hold it down, is dropped overboard, and in so doing winds up the lines D on the roller, ready for hoisting the roller when the shield is no longer needed and the ropes F have been slackened. Meanwhile two of the ropes F are released from their fastenings G, and there being slack enough, the snap-hook H of each is brought forward and attached to the line D. The weight of the hook H and the line D causes them to drop, the hook sliding down the line D till it rests upon the roller, and the line D swinging underneath the vessel, as in Fig. 1, when the slack is taken up on. the opposite side and the shield. drawn taut over the hole. In this way the shield is quickly placed over the hole and held thereto against any action of the water tending to swing the roller and lower edge of the shield away from the bottom and side. When the vessel is in a position to be repaired, or the hole no longer required to be temporarily covered, the ropes F are slackened, and the shield is drawn up by hauling upon the lines D, which, being wound upon the roller, cause the shield to be wound upon the latter as it is raised.

The shield may be made water-proof in any suitable way, and the metallic parts protected against the action of sea-water. 7

I am aware that leak-stoppers consisting of a flexible shield with a weighted roller and hoisting-lines and securing and tautening lines passing around the bow and stern are old, and inch a leak-stopper I do not broadly claim What I claim is as follows:

1. A stopper for leaks in vessels, consisting of aflexible shield having one edge detachably secured to the side of a vessel and the other fastened to a heavy roller, upon which the shield winds and unwinds when suspended, hoisting-ropes, which wind and unwind upon the roller rcversely to the shield, for winding up the same, and detachable ropes having a sliding connection with the hoisting ropes,for drawing the lower edge of the shield and the roller against the hull of the vessel, substantially as described.

2. As a means for stopping leaks in vessels, a flexible shield detachabl-y secured at one edge to the side of a vessel and havingaheavy roller fastened at its other edge, with hoisting-lines and sccuringlines having adjustable hooks sliding upon the hoisting-lines, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a weighted flexible shield suspended over the side ofa vessel, of a series of securing-lines detachably fastened to the sides of the vessel and extending around the bow, and automatically-releasing catches on the ships sides, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a weighted flexible shield suspended over the side of a vessel, and having hoisting-lines, of securing and tautening lines detachably secured by means of automatically-releasing catches along the vessels strealgand having asliding connection, with the hoisting-ropes and extending around bow and stern, substantially as described.

5. A means for stopping leaks in vessels, consisting of a flexible shield dctachably fastened at one edge to the side of a vessel, and having a heavy roller at its other edge, upon which it is wound, hoisting-cords wound up on the roller when the shield is unrolled, and a series of securing-lines detachably fastened to the sides of the vessel and extending around the bow, and having a sliding connection at one end adapted to be attached to the hoist- 45 ing-lines, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

DEMING JARVES.

\Vitnesses:

7 JOHN A. DEADY, FREDK. GIBLIN. 

